Leslie, Michigan

49251

Photos courtesy of:K. Huisjen

Leslie is located in southern Ingham County, about 15 miles southeast of Lansing, along US-127. This picturesque town has preserved a lot of its turn-of-the-century architecture, both in the downtown area buildings and surrounding houses. Its economy is supported by small business and some mid-level manufacturing, including auto parts production. It also is supported by its location to the greater Lansing and Jackson areas as a bedroom community.

Leslie was first settled by Elijah Woodworth in 1836, who built the first log cabin here. It was originally named Meekerville after a famous pioneer to the area, Benjamin Meeker. Later, another settler to the area, Jerry G. Cornell (also known as Jerathmal, Jer-Athmel, "Jer", "J.A."), named the town after a prominent Leslie family in eastern New York, his home state. He is buried in Spring Arbor. The name took when a post office was assigned to the area in 1841. It eventually was incorporated as a village in 1869.